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Bob is alone or so it seems. I like no 2, as it has the wave action to add interest. The last one of the beached seals is an interesting photo with lots to look at. Jury is out on no 3, ref the fighting or otherwise! Perhaps if you had stayed a little longer...…….

#1 If you've ever seen Grey Seals in the water you'll know they pop up and disappear just as you find them in the viewfinder.
There were a few in the water but not enough to be easy targets - this is actually a crop of the original.

Then we came across a small group "playing" in the beakers. I'm not sure who's who, when the big Dads turn up during the pupping they're huge so I imagine these might be juveniles. Not sure really. I've seen them doing similar stuff in February.

#5 is typical for this time of year, a lot of mums-to-be resting up. You can usually find a few grey and the odd common seal on the beach at Horsey lounging about but they're now pupping so the beach is rammed. It's a great place to visit and luckily more or less on our doorstep.

Does the 'voluntary' closure mean one can't get close enough to photograph them anymore?

(Not that I'd want to get anywhere near as close as those pictured walking past them in that link).

We haven't been this year, in previous years I've not had problems getting good images with a 40-150 lens. You get the heavy tripod, camo and white bazooka lens Canikon shooters there too.
There are two viewing areas along the top of the dunes, roped off and with stairs to help you get up easily to the larger area at least. There are volunteers around to answer questions and keep an eye on things.

The seals often climb up into the dunes and sometimes sit around in the viewing areas.

Last year the upgraded the parking facilities and there were more stewards at the weekend so it was more expensive but less chaotic.
Based on the counts there should be pups to see now.

They grow very fast and are weened in 3-4 weeks so if you want cute white seal pups you have to pick your moment.

Thanks, next week I'm too busy, but early the following week might be better if the spring tides push the seals a little further up the beach, high tide on 26th probably around mid-day, take 40-150, 300 and 1.4x tc. Seems like a plan if the weather's OK. Might try and call in RSPB Strumpshaw Fen if there's time to make the most of it.

I've never really thought about the time of day/tides, it might be worth going in the morning if the weather is clear. The orientation and height of the dunes means the area closest in will be in heavy shade from the mid afternoon onwards. If the seals are moved up the beach they may be harder to frame as you're looking down from a height.
In the end we visit to see the baby seals as a family nd I take a few pictures - I've never done a deliberate photo trip so there are probably more authoritative sources on when and where to go

My plan would be to try and arrive before sunrise (for other photo opportunities), check out the beach starting from when there's enough light, finally heading back for the 150 mile drive back home after mid-day. A lifetime of sea fishing makes me always check out springs/neaps/high and low tides (also useful for wading birds), but I don't think I'll manage to also get any fishing in on just a day trip.

Rather than start a new thread here are the pictures I took on December 15th, 2018 taking my brother along to see the new pups.

The weather was bitter, just above freezing and blowing an icy gale - well that's how we felt. I got red faced, wind burn in the 45m we were there.
We only made it as far as the first viewing area but a couple of the pups had been brought up into the dunes by their mums so we got a great view under the watchful eye of the Friends of Horsey Seals volunteers.
They really earned their donation that Saturday!

All taken with my Olympus OM-D E-M10ii and the plastic fantastic 40-150mm Olympus lens